Visiting a Muslim brother whose earnings are ill-gotten

Q: A man's brother fixes cassettes and radios. When he comes to Riyadh, he refuses to stay with him or eat with him because of the type of work he does. And he stays with another relative instead. The brother is angry, and he asks about the ruling on this.

A: It is known that maintaining the ties of kinship is something ordered by Allah. The fact that the questioner's (Part No. 25; Page No. 303) brother's work involves fixing cassettes and radios is not an excuse not to visit him and stay with another person, while he has more right than any other person to stay with his brother. Cassettes and radios are no absolute evil, nor are they absolute goodness. They are just tools that can be used in evil, goodness or both. It depends on the person who uses them. You should not leave a definite interest, which is maintaining ties of kinship, for a probable harm, which is using cassette players and radios in prohibited things. The Shari`ah (Islamic law) aims at achieving interests and avoiding harms, and committing the less evil action to avoid the greater evil. The questioner should maintain the ties of kinship with his brother and not prefer another over him for the mentioned reason. He should also advise him to quit this job that is likely to lead to evil. If a person leaves something for the sake of Allah, He compensates them with something better.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.